Chapter 10 is served! I want (again) to give a shout-out to animationgirl89 for her friendship and support, and to everyone else if they read! Thanks, everyone! Enjoy!
(Also, warning: this chapter contains brief physical abuse, so if that's not something you're comfortable with, the best option is to leave.)
Tears running down her cheeks, Oaklyn slowed to a trot, and then a slow walk, when she knew Charlie wasn't following her.
"At least I'm not a prissy little broad who always wants everything to turn into a magical little fairy tale!"
His words stung badly. Charlie looked like he'd meant it, too... had he always thought that about her? Was she just a little brat who always wanted everything to be wonderful and happy? Maybe he was right...
Maybe I'm just a little snob, and Charlie was right... but I just didn't wanna lose him! Oaklyn sniffled, and found herself at the front gate of her house. Standing on her hind legs, she unlatched it and went inside, locking it behind her as she walked inside.
Oaklyn didn't bother to turn the lights on, instead just heading to her bedroom, tears still falling from her furry cheeks. She sat down on her beanbag chair, switching on the old TV Charlie had found somewhere and had Itchy try to fix- he did, and it worked well enough. Oaklyn sniffed again, laying down.
Sorry I didn't wanna lose you, Charlie, she thought bitterly. I guess you just don't care, then, huh? Too infested in greed to care about me, or maybe... was he going to forget about me...?
Oaklyn let out a little whine, wiping her face with her arm. She crossed her forelegs and put her head down, not wanting to do anything but watch one of the cheesy television romance dramas.
"Oh, Albert!" the lady with the feathered hat and scarf cried, "I thought I'd lost you, my love!" She wrapped her arms around the man opposite of her, and he hugged her reassuringly. "Oh, Lidia, my darling," he soothed, pulling away and looking into her eyes, "I could never lose you, my sweet. I'd never leave you alone to fend for yourself... I love you, Lidia." The woman smiled sweetly at her beloved. "Oh, Albert, I love you too," she cried, kissing him passionately.
Oaklyn sighed, glancing at her white paws. She found herself daydreaming, to her surprise, and she closed her eyes unconsciously.
She was alone on a dark cliffside, but the moonlight bathed her in its silver glow. She stared up at the moon, longing for someone to soothe the strong loneliness she felt. Suddenly, a paw on her back made her turn her head, and there Charlie was, smiling down at her.
"Hey, Snowflake," he said, leaning his head down and nuzzling Oaklyn as she smiled. "You're back..." she whispered, pressing her head into his chest lovingly.
Charlie laid down in the swaying grass and wrapped his shaggy tail around her, nudging his muzzle under her chin. Oaklyn closed her eyes and smiled, wagging her fluffy tail as Charlie's breathing comforted her. "Of course I'm back, Oaklyn... I'd never leave you alone. I love you..." he whispered, giving her forehead a lick. Oaklyn snuggled into Charlie's fur. "I love you too..."
The snowy-furred Pomeranian woke up, finding herself still on her beanbag. But something had woken her up; it wasn't her mind waking her up.
Confused, Oaklyn lifted her head slowly, but she was beyond shocked to see a familiar red glow, and smoke flowing in a small stream from it. She scrambled to her paws, spooked.
"C-Carface?!"
Sure enough, Carface himself was sitting in the corner, smoking his cigar and watching her. "Hey, Snowflake," he greeted casually, walking toward her with the cigar between his sharp, yellowed teeth. "I've been wonderin', y'know, where you've been lately..." Carface put a paw under Oaklyn's chin, and she froze for a moment, too shocked to react. Carface was in her house?!?! She didn't think he knew where she lived...
"Y'know, Oaklyn..." Carface murmured, puffing smoke out of his mouth as he spoke, "I was also wonderin' where you were gonna tell me... that Charlie... was alive." His words almost dripped with evil intent.
Oaklyn tensed, backing up a little and thinking of how glad she was Carface couldn't see her trembling. "Wh-what're you talking about?" she said, flattening her ears. "Charlie's d-dead, Carface, we-we both know that..."
Oaklyn's breathing quickened as Carface pulled his paw away; the pit bull snorted shortly, and Oaklyn could see his cigar reflecting in his dark eyes, and it make them look like fiery black pits.
"I shoulda known you'd betray me, Snowflake..." he grumbled, flicking the ashes onto Oaklyn's floor without a care. She curled her lip back, growing angry. "You can't call me Snowflake!" she growled, but she felt a seed of fear plant itself in her chest when Carface's big head snapped towards her. "Sorry, I don't think I heard that right..."
Oaklyn swallowed, standing up with anger rising in her belly. "Y-you heard me, Carface. You can't call me Snowflake." Carface put out his cigar on Oaklyn's carpet, but before she could say anything, he swung his thick arm around and delivered a hard punch to Oaklyn's cheek. "Agh!" she yelped, falling to the ground and inhaling; her face throbbed.
Carface was quickly standing over her, baring his sharp teeth. He gave her a sadistic frown. "I'll call you whatever I want, you little brat." Oaklyn wiped her mouth, tasting blood, but she tried to crawl away, despite still facing upward. "G-get away from me!" she cried, snarling warningly with her eyes wide. They blazed with anger, but behind that was fear; Carface had never hit her before.
"Now, you're gonna behave and tell me whatever Charlie's plans are, y' understand?" he growled, taking another step toward the small dog. Oaklyn's eyes filled with tears of anger and anxiety, but she swallowed. "Ye-yeah, yeah, fine! Whatever you say, Carface..." The pit bull smiled, satisfied. "Good."
Carface took her paw, pulling her up. "C'mon, Snowflake, let's go." Oaklyn wrenched her paw out of his, glaring at him, but Carface just rolled his eyes and walked outside. Oaklyn looked down at the ground, wishing only for Charlie to be there to comfort her... like in her dream.
Once they arrived there, Carface went to his office, grabbing a large brown sack, and then he walked out. Oaklyn watched him, curious and suddenly worried. "Wh-what's that for?" she asked, facing Carface as he walked outside. "Oh, it's not for you," he replied, chuckling. Oaklyn gulped. "Is-is it for, um... is it for Charlie...?" She saw no point in trying to pretend she didn't know Charlie was alive, but now she was very worried about his safety.
Carface scoffed. "If only. No, Snowflake. It's for Killa." Oaklyn sighed quietly, relieved, but then she perked up when she heard Killer's gasp. "Gah!! Boss, wait!! I didn't- HUMPH!!" Oaklyn ran out of the room, and she saw Killer suddenly hanging upside down over a looooooong pit of hungry piranhas. She shivered, actually feeling bad for poor Killer. Carface climbed into his chair, chuckling.
A chunk of meat was plunged down on a chain as fast as Oaklyn blinked, and when it came back up, a little piranha was clinging to the bare bone. Oaklyn leaned backward, shuddering.
"Boy, I knew we shoulda used the pliers!" Killer said, and suddenly Carface's henchdogs started to come into the room. As one large, unkempt black and gray dog walked past Oaklyn, he flashed her a toothy and evil grin, and she stepped away. Carface grabbed Killer's muzzle, which was wrapped around with a rope to quiet him. Carface moved his cigar to the other corner of his mouth. "Charlie's alive!" he said, dragging Killer's face close, "and I know he's got the girl!"
Oaklyn gulped again, nervous. Killer started coughing after Carface blew smoke into his face, and the pit bull sat back, stilling holding Killer's scrawny muzzle. "Killa, this is strike two- you're out." He let go of Killer; sending him swinging back and forth. "Humph! No, no, wait, boss! I get one more strike, boss, honest!!" he cried, and Carface shoved his foot into Killer's forehead to push him. "Ugh!"
Carface glanced at the dog who stood by the lever. "'Er 'em," he said, puffing on his cigar as Oaklyn watched Killer. The dog pushed the lever down, and Killer started making noises of fear. "Urgh!"
Carface smirked. "Nothin' personal, Killer. Just business..." The Schnoodle was lowered slowly, and his eyes were big with terror. "Hmm-hmmph-hmm!" he tried to say, wiggling a little. Oaklyn watched, awestruck and wide-eyed, as Killer was lowered.
He really IS that heartless!!
Carface leaned back. "Hm. If you want somethin' done right, you gotta do it yourself..." he mused, rolling onto his chubby belly. "Now... how do I handle Charlie?" Oaklyn shivered as her friend's name was mentioned. "Knives... poison... carbon work... somethin' somethin' very special-" With every word, Oaklyn grew more nervous, but then Killer started speaking actual words.
"Boss!! Pull me up!! Please!! I gotta- I gotta- I gotta gun!!" he cried desperately, wiggling around in fear. Carface looked down at him. "Gun? What do you mean, a gun? What kind of gun?" he demanded, and Oaklyn watched as he leaned down to know more.
Killer kept babbling almost incomprehensibly, but he managed to say, "boss! Ya hear me, boss? I've got a gun!" Then the piranhas jumped up and started biting on Killer's ears. "Ooh! Ow! Stop, fishies! You won't like what ya taste!!" he pleaded, but immediately afterward, his head was plunged into the water. Killer's eyes went huge as the piranhas shot at his face, but before they could get him, he was pulled back up, and started babbling again.
"I don't taste that good! I ju- I just- BOSS! Pull me up!" He sounded like he was almost laughing hysterically, but he quit a second later. "Ow, ow!"
He came face to face with Carface, who stared with a malicious grin. "A Flash Gordon thermo-atomic raygun, boss!" he finished, and Oaklyn startled, neck fur spiking. Carface's face turned more evil than Oaklyn had ever seen it.
"A ray gun..." He started chuckling, and that alone made Oaklyn start to tremble. She could almost see his fur turn red, and his ears turn to devil's horns. She cleared her throat. "Uhhhh- Carface, what's the raygun gonna be used for...?"
The pit bull looked at her, grinning with his eyes half closed. "Oh, can't ya guess, Snowflake? Charlie, of course!" Oaklyn's breath caught in her throat; she tried not to appear scared, but she couldn't help blinking in horror a couple times. Oh, no... Charlie! He can't kill him!!! I... I have to go to him and apologize... but...
Oaklyn startled as Carface came up. "Ey. You're gonna stay here, at the casino, until I say you can leave. You understand?" he growled. Oaklyn inhaled quickly, nodding. "Yessir." Carface walked away, chuckling to himself.
She wasn't sure she could face Charlie after how she'd acted, but... maybe...?
"Oh, man... Charlie, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have overreacted," she whispered, hanging her head low. "What do I do...?"
I've finished the next chapter... finally... I hope I can get some reviews soon, or somethin'. I don't wanna sound desperate, but I really wish the fanfiction site involving ADGTH was more active, heh... anyway, I hope you enjoyed!
